ABOUT MARCH OF DIMES
A President's Cause Changed Babies' Lives Forever
President Franklin Roosevelt's personal struggle with polio led him to create the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis at a time when polio was on the rise. Better known as the March of Dimes, the foundation established a polio patient aid program and funded research for vaccines developed by Jonas Salk, MD and Albert Sabin, MD. These vaccines effectively ended epidemic polio in the United States.
Preventing Birth Defects
Its original mission accomplished, the foundation turned its focus to preventing birth defects and infant mortality. The
has led the way to discover the genetic causes of birth defects, to promote newborn screening, and to educate medical professionals and the public about best practices for healthy pregnancy. They have supported research for surfactant therapy to treat respiratory distress and helped initiate the system of regional neonatal intensive care for premature and sick babies. The recent Folic Acid Campaign achieved a dramatic reduction in the incidence of neural tube defects, birth defects of the brain and spine.
Fighting Premature Birth
Since 2003, the fight to save babies has been strongly characterized by the Prematurity Campaign. The rising incidence of premature birth has demanded action, and the March of Dimes has responded by initiating an intensive, multi-year campaign to raise awareness and find the causes of prematurity.
WHAT MARCH OF DIMES DOES
A President's Cause Changed Babies' Lives Forever
President Franklin Roosevelt's personal struggle with polio led him to create the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis at a time when polio was on the rise. Better known as the March of Dimes, the foundation established a polio patient aid program and funded research for vaccines developed by Jonas Salk, MD and Albert Sabin, MD. These vaccines effectively ended epidemic polio in the United States.
Preventing Birth Defects
Its original mission accomplished, the foundation turned its focus to preventing birth defects and infant mortality. The
has led the way to discover the genetic causes of birth defects, to promote newborn screening, and to educate medical professionals and the public about best practices for healthy pregnancy. They have supported research for surfactant therapy to treat respiratory distress and helped initiate the system of regional neonatal intensive care for premature and sick babies. The recent Folic Acid Campaign achieved a dramatic reduction in the incidence of neural tube defects, birth defects of the brain and spine.
Fighting Premature Birth
Since 2003, the fight to save babies has been strongly characterized by the Prematurity Campaign. The rising incidence of premature birth has demanded action, and the March of Dimes has responded by initiating an intensive, multi-year campaign to raise awareness and find the causes of prematurity.
WHAT MARCH OF DIMES DOES
- Prematurity Campaign was launched in 2003 to address the crisis and help families have healthy, full-term babies. In 2008, the Campaign was extended globally. In 2009, we released the first estimates of the worldwide toll of preterm birth.
- Develop and implement local programs that will ultimately improve the health of babies. Through our network of chapters and volunteers, these programs reach over a million people across the country and Puerto Rico each year. We provide information and services designed to prevent premature birth and birth defects and to promote healthy pregnancies.
- Centering Pregnancy®, group prenatal care, are focused on improving the availability and quality of health care.
- Provide information and comfort to families coping with the experience of having a baby in newborn intensive care unit (NICU) through NICU Family Support®. NICU Family Support complements and enhances family-centered care practices in partner hospitals, addresses the needs of families and provides professional development to NICU staff.
- Work with partners to collect and publish data on the harsh toll of premature birth and birth defects around the world, including regional and national levels. We’ve also identified steps that countries can take to reduce this toll.
- Conduct international conferences to foster networks among developing and industrialized country experts and to create opportunities for sharing ideas, programs and best practices.
- Research and gather information on premature birth, birth defects, and infant health.